'I apologise for the Third World conditions': Leading doctor gives damning verdict on Staffordshire's biggest hospital
Conditions at Staffordshire's biggest hospital have been compared to the Third World by one of its own doctors.
Outspoken A&E consultant Richard Fawcett apologised to patients at Royal Stoke saying he has been left broken hearted by the sight of frail and elderly people enduring long waits in the halls.
It is the same doctor who took to social media on Saturday revealing the hospital had dozens of patients left on trolleys on corridors while sister site County Hospital in Stafford had closed to ambulances.
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust confirmed the ambulance divert, which was in place for around five hours, had been lifted but declared both hospitals remained 'full'.
Dr Fawcett posted yesterday: "Still in A&E as TTL, it breaks my heart to see so many frail and elderly pts on the corridor for hrs and hrs due to exit block ."
He later added: "As an A&E consultant @UHNM_NHS I personally apologise to the people of stoke for the 3rd world conditions of the dept due to #overcrowding."
Dr John Oxtoby, medical director said: “The health system in the North Midlands was under severe and sustained pressure over the Christmas period and this challenging situation has continued into the New Year.
“During this time the emergency departments will continue to see the sickest patients first, which is unfortunately leading to long waits for other patients.
“We are working with other health and social care partners to get people back home or their next place of care as quickly as possible to free up beds for those who need them the most, and to ensure that frail elderly people are not coming to A&E if they could be better cared for elsewhere.
“Our staff want the very best for our patients and at times they find the situation frustrating, which can be reflected on social media.
“However, we are a leading trauma, stroke and cardiac centre and have been regularly praised by external independent commentators for the quality of compassionate care provided at our hospitals despite all our pressures.
“We do of course apologise to anyone experiencing long waits at either County Hospital or Royal Stoke University Hospital, and ask the public to continue to support us by only using A&E for life threatening or urgent conditions.
“We would like to thank our fantastic staff for their on-going efforts during this extremely challenging period and the public for their understanding and co-operation.”
